Printer having type drum with blank area and hammer on movable carriage



July 18, 1967 F. BRETTI PRINTER HAVING TYPE DRUM WITH BLANK AREA AN HAMMER ON MOVABLE CARRIAGE Filed Dec. l5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l HHM IHN lllll IIW .Ill

Fig. 2

NVS

INVENTOR FRANCO BRETT! AGENT Filed Deo. 13, 1965 July 18, 1967 F. BRETTI 3,331,316

PRINTER HAVING TYPE DRUM WITH BLANK AREA AND HAMMER ON MOVABLE CARRIAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

FRANCO BRETTI AGENT United States Patent O PRINTER HAVING TYPE DRUM WITH BLANK AREA AND HAMMER N MOVABLE CARRIAGE Franco Bretti, Turin, Italy, assignor to Ing. C. Olivetti &

C., S.p.A., Ivrea, Italy, a corporation of Italy Filed Dec. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 513,321 Claims priority, application Italy, Jan. 2, 1965, 470/ 65 14 Claims. (Cl. 101--93) The present invention refers to a high speed serial printing device for oilice machines and data processing equipments, comprising a continuously rotating drum provided with a plurality of parallel rows of types arranged circumferentially thereon, at least two rows of types being similar and axially distanced according to the horizontal printing spacing, and comprising a transversely movable carriage provided with a single hammer operable for engaging a selected type of said drum to effect a ilying printing thereof.

Many serial printing devices are known, wherein a type carrier and a hammer are transevrsely moved step by step. These devices `are generally too slow in operation because the type selection and the transverse movement are effected sequentially.

It is also known a printing device comprising a continuously rotating drum provided with a plurality of rows of types and with a single hammer transversely movable step by step. Due to the discontinuous movement of the hammer this device is still slow in operation, because during the hammers transverse movement no printing may be effected.

This disadvantage is obviated by the serial printing device according to the invention, which is characterized by means for continuously moving said carriage along a printing line at such a constant speed as to cover one horizontal printing spacing during one revolution of said drum, said hammer having such a transverse dimension as to fully engage any type of a predetermined row of said plurality despite of its transverse movement.

This and other characteristics of the invention will ICC ' zero to nine, a decimal point and two types representing become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, made by way of example and not in a limiting sense, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial plan view of a high speed serial printing device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a detail of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a left hand partial sectional view taken on the line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a left hand partial view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional View taken on the line V-V of FIG. l;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a detail of FIG. 5.

The printing device is embodied in an electronic calculating machine of the type described in the United States patent application Ser. No. 435,877 dated Mar. l, 1965. Said calculating machine is provided with a plurality of selectable registers, and it is adapted to supply a series of signals representing the selected register, a function symbol, each order of the amount contained therein, the eventual decimal point, and the algebraic sign of said amount.

Referring to the FIG. 1, the printing device comprises a type drum 3 secu-red to a transverse shaft 4 continuously rotating on the machine frame in a manner known per se. The drum 3 is provided with a plurality of parallel rows of types arranged circumferentially thereon and axially distanced according to the printing horizontal spacing. Particularly, the drum 3 is provided with twentytwo similar rows 5 of types arranged in denominational orders. Each -row 5 (FIG. 2) comprises the types from the algebraic signs and The types of each row 5 are distanced or spaced circumferentially according to a given pitch, and said rows are spaced axially of said drum in accord with desired print spacing. Each of said rows 5 cover substantially a 180 degrees sector or expanse on the cylindrical surface of the drum.

Furthermore, the drum 3 is provided with two rows of types 6 representing the different registers of the machine and the function symbols indicating the functions eifected by the machine. The two rows 6 of types cover about `a 220 degrees sector or expanse on the cylindrical surface of the drum 3. The drum surface comprises thus a portion 7 deprived or devoid of types, which in part has an expanse of degrees and in part has a lesser expanse. As will be more clearly evident herein after, the type-devoid sector or portion 7 provides that while it makes each passage across the printing line, the striking face of the hammer moves along the printing line a suicient distance so that the types of successive rows are adapted to be individually struck and without any part of types of adjoining rows being struck.

Secured to the left end of the shaft 4 is a disk 8 .provided with a set of ferromagnetic elements 9 each one located in correspondence with the angular position of the different types of the rows 5 and 6. Furthermore, the disk 8 is provided with a predisposing ferromagnetic element 10, preceding the element 9 of the zero types. The elements 9 and 10 may be read by a magnetic head 11 for generating clock signals, in a manner known per se.

Furthermore, the printing device comprises a carriage, generically indicated by the numeral 12, comprising two flanks 13 transversely slidable along a shaft 14 (FIG. 3) secured to the machine frame, and a transverse bar 15 slidable on a shaft 16 mounted on the same machine frame. Fulcrumed on a -pivot 17 secured to the anks 13 is a single hammer 18 normally urged by a spring 19 to contact a lug 21 of a bail 22 fulcrumed on a second pivot 23 secured to the same flanks 13. The transverse dimension (FIG. 2) of the operating head of the hammer 18 is equal to the horizontal printing spacing and it is adapted to fully engage any type of a predetermined row 5 and 6 despite of the transverse movement of the hammer 18 Secured to a pair of lugs 24 (FIG. 3) of the bail 22 is an armature 26 of an electromagnet 27 secured to the flanks 13. The spring 19 urges the armature 26 to normally contact a stationary pin 28 secured to the bar 15, whereas the hammer 18 is protected by a guard plate 29 secured to the flanks 13. Secured to the lower part of the flanks 13 is also a centrifugal brake 31 known per se, which is provided with a pinion 32 engaging a stationary rack 33. A spring 34 (FIG. l) is connected to a bracket 35 secured to the right hand flank 13 and normally urges the carriage 12 to contact a should-er 36 of the machine frame.

Means are provided for continuously moving the carriage 12 along a printing line, said means comprising a screw 41 rotatably mounted on the machine frame. The screw -41 has a pitch twice the horizontal printing spacing and is secured to a pinion 42 (FIG. 3) intermeshing with a pinion 43 secured to the shaft 4. The pinion 42 has a diameter twice the diameter of the pinion 43, whereby the screw 41 is continuously and synchronously rotated with the drum 3, at an angular speed half the speed of the drum 3.

The screw 41 is adapted to be engaged by a bent projection 39 of a lever 37 secured to a sleeve 38 located between the two anks 13 (FIG. 1) and rotatably and slidably mounted on the stationary shaft 14. The lever 37 (FIG. 3) is provided with a shoulder 44 normally urged by a spring 46 to contact a universal bar 47 adapted to assume alternately the position shown in FIG. 3 and a position rocked clockwise. The universal bar 47 is integral with two arms 48 and 49 fulcrumed on a stationary shaft 51. The arm 48 is provided with a pin 52 normally urged by a spring 53 to contact a three-lobed cam 54 rotatably mounted on a stationary sleeve 55.

The cam 54 is provided with six holes 56, adapted to be engaged by a pin 57 of a lever 58 rotatably mounted on a rod 59 and normally urged by a spring 61 to contact a stationary pin 62. The rod 59 is 'slidably mounted within the sleeve 55 (FIG. 1) and is secured to an armature 63 of a second electromagnet 64. Furthermore, the lever 58 is provided with a second pin 65 adapted to be brought into the path of a projection 66 (FIG. 3) of a slide 67 having a projection 68 slidable into a notch of the machine frame and having a slot 69 slidable on a cylindrical portion of the screw 41. The slide 67 is provided with a pair of lugs 71 cooperating with a main cam formed of a circular eccentric 72 secured to the same screw 41.

A compression spring 74 (FIG. 1) located on the rod 59 between the lever 58 and the sleeve 55 normally urges the lever 58 and the rod 59 rightwards, whereby the pin 57 is disengaged from the cam 54, While the pin 65 is disengaged from the projection 66 (FIG. 3). A second compression spring 76 (FIG. 1) is located between a flange 73 secured to the rod 59 and a slide 77. This latter is axially slidable on the rod 59 and on the shaft 16 and is provided with a lug 78 normally urged by the spring 76 to contact a crank lever 79 secured to the shaft 16. The crank lever 79 is provided with a bent lug 81 having a tapered edge adapted to be engaged by a lug 82 (FIG. 5) of the bracket 35 when the carriage 12 is at rest in the position shown in FIG. 1.

Secured to the left end of the shaft 16 is another crank lever 83 provided with a pin 84 adapted to be engaged by the left hand flank 13 of the carriage 12. Furthermore, the crank lever 83 is provided with a lug 86 (FIG. 4) adapted to cooperate with an end 87 of a lever 88 fulcrumed on the shaft 51. A spring 89 is tensioned between the crank lever 83 and the lever 88 and on one hand normally urges the shaft 16 counterclockwise and the lug 81 (FIG. 5) of the crank lever 79 to contact the lug 82 of the bracket 35. On the other hand the spring 89 urges the lever 88 (FIG. 4) to contact a lug 91 of the arm 49 of the universal bar 47.

The arm 49 is provided with a lug 92 operating a first signal generator adapted to be set from a rst condition to a second condition and formed of an electrical switch 93 (FIG. 1), which at rest is adapted to render ineffective the signals generated by the head 11 in a known manner. The lever 88 is provided with a lug 94 adapted to operate a second signal generator or electrical switch 96, which when operated prevents in a known manner the machine from sending a printing starting signal.

The high speed serial printing device operates as follows.

Normally the drum 3 is continuously rotated clockwise at a high speed bodily with the shaft 4 and the disk 8. The electrical switch 93 is at rest, that is open, whereby the signals generated by the elements 9 and 10 upon passing in front of the head 11 are ineffective. The pinion 43 (FIG. 3) in turn rotates the pinion 42 counterclockwise together with the screw 41 and the eccentric 72 at an angular speed half the speed of the drum 3. Therefore, the eccentric 72 reciprocates the slide 67 longitudinally once any even revolution of the drum 3.

When an amount processed by the calculating machine is to be printed, an electric printing starting signal is produced and causes the electromagnet 64 (FIG. l) to be energized at an instant irrespective from the angular position of the drum 3. Then the electromagnet 64 displaces the rod 59 leftwards bodily with the slide77. If the projection 66 of the slide 67 for the time being lies in front of the pin 65 of the lever 58, as shown in FIG. 3, the lever 58 is temporarily prevented from following the rod 59. When the eccentric 72 displaces the slide 67 forwards (rightwards in FIG. 3), its projection 66 disengages the pin 65 of the lever 58 and the electromagnet 64 (FIG. 1) displaces now the rod 59 and the lever 58 leftwards. Now the pin 57 enters a hole 56 (FIG. 3) of the cam 54 and brings the pin 65 into the path of the projection 66 of the slide 67.

Thereafter the eccentric 72 displaces the slide 67 rear- Wards and the projection 66 through the pin 65 rotates the lever 58, together with the cam 54, 60 degrees counterclockwise. The cam 54 causes now the spring 53 to rock the universal bar 47 counterclockwise to its second position, the pin 52 of the arm 48 holding the cam 54 in the rocked position. After a predetermined time the electromagnet 64 (FIG. 1) is deenergized in a known manner, whereby the spring 74 restores the lever 58 rightwards bodily with the rod 59 and the slide 77. The lever 58 disengages thus the pin 57 from the cam 54 and brings its pin 65 out of the path of the slide 67, whereby the spring 61 (FIG. 3) restores the lever 58 clockwise.

The universal bar 47 when rocked counterclockwise causes the spring 46 to rock the lever 37 clockwise, thus engaging the projection 39 with the screw 41. The engagement of the projection 39 with the screw 41 becomes effective when the screw shows a notch to the projection 39, whereby the carriage 12 is connected to the screw 41 when the drum 3 is in a predetermined angular position presenting to the hammer 18 the portion 7 deprived of types, as indicated in FIG. 2.

Starting from this instant, the screw 41 (FIG. l) through the lever 37 continuously moves the carriage 12 leftwards at such constant or given speed and so synchronized with the rotative speed of the drum, that during successive turns of said drum the types of different rows come successively into character printing range of the striking face `of the hammer at the printing line. Specifically the striking face of the hammer describes with reference to the rotating drum 3 a helicoidal bandpath shown by dot-and-dash lines in the FIG. 2. From FIG. 2 it appears also clear that the individual type rows 5, 6 are completely situated within partial turns of said heliocoidal band-path by reason of the travel of the hammer which occurs while the type-devoid drum sector is moved along the printing line. As clearly evident from FIG. 2, the striking face of the hammer is of a width to engage the individual types in any row 5 or 6 without engaging at the same time any of the types in adjacent type rows.

The arm 49 (FIG. 4) of the univesral bar 47 upon being rocked counterclockwise, through the lug 92 operates the switch 93, which generates a signal indicating to the calculating machine that the printing device is ready for printing a line and renders effective the clock signals generated by the head 11. Furthermore, the arm 49 through its lug 91 rocks the lever 8S counterclockwise, whereby the lug 94 operates the switch 96 which generates a signal for preventing the machine from sending another printing starting signal.

Now, when the element 10 of the disk 8 passes through the head 11, a signal is generated which enables the calculating machine to sequentially send the signals representing the selected register, the function effected by the machine, and the various orders of the amount to be printed, in the manner described in the cited patent application. The first one of said signals, in coincidence with the clock signal generated by the corresponding element 9 passing through the head 11, energizes the electromagnet 27 (FIG. 3). The armature 26 rocks now the bail 22 counterclockwise and the lug 21 res the hammer 18 against the drum 3 exactly in the instant the selected type of the first right hand row 6 passes in front of the same hammer. The electromagnet 27 is then deenergzed and the hammer 18 is restored during the passage of the portion 7 deprived of types in front of the printing line.

As soon as the carriage 12 (FIG. 1) leaves its rest position, the lug 82 of the bracket 35 leaves the lug 81 of the crank lever 79. The `crank lever 83 (FIG. 4) is now rocked counterclockwise by the spring 89 together with the shaft 16, and brings the lug 86 under the end 87 of the lever 88, which is thus locked in the rocked position. Subsequently the printing is serially effected from right to left in a similar way as for the rst type, by printing one type of each one of the other rows 6 and 5 at any revolution of the drum.

When the highest signicant order of the amount, eventually formed of a zero placed at the left of the decimal point, has been printed, the calculating machine sends a signal representing the algebraic sign of the amount, which is thus printed at the left of the amount. Furthermore, this signal causes the electromagnet 64 (FIG. 1) to be energized in a known manner, whereby the armature 63 displaces the rod 59 leftwards as in the case of the starting of printing a line. Now the slide 67 (FIG. 3) through the lever 58 rocks against the cam 54 counterclockwise, thus restoring clockwise the arm 48 together with the universal bar 47 and the arm 49. The universal bar 47 `disengages the lever 37 from the screw 41, whereby the carriage 12 (FIG. 1) may be restored rightwards by the spring 34. The return stroke of the carriage is controlled by the centrifugal brake 31 (FIG. 3).

Furthermore, the arm 49 (FIG. 4) through its lug 92 resets the switch 93, and signals to the machine that the carriage 12 has been disengaged from the screw 41. The switch 93 unlocks now some functions of the machine locked during the printing. In turn the lever -88 is released by the lug 91 of the arm 49, but it cannot immediately follow the arm 49 because it is locked by the lug 86 of the crank lever 83, whereby the switch 96 still prevents the machine from sending a printing starting signal until the carriage 12 is out of its transverse rest position. When the carriage 12 reaches this transverse rest position, the lug 82 (FIG. 5) of the bracket 35 engages the tapered edge of the lug 81 of the crank lever 79, which is rocked clockwise together with the shaft 16 and the crank lever 83 (FIG. 4). Then the lug 86 of the crank lever 83 disengages the lever 88, which may finally reset the switch 96 and signals to the machine that the carriage 12 has been restored.

The return of the carriage 12 to the right may be caused mechanically when the carriage 12 reaches the left end of its stroke. In fact when the left hand flank 13 (FIG. l) of the carriage 12 engages the pin 84 of the crank lever 83, the shaft 16 is displaced leftwards together with the crank lever 79 and the slide 77. This latter compresses now the spring 76 which overcomes the spring 74 and may displace the rod 59 leftwards together with the lever 58 at the instant wherein the projection 66 (FIG. 3) of the slide 67 releases the pin 65. The cam 54 is thus rotated 60 degrees counterclockwise and through the universal bar 47 and the lever 37 causes the carriage 12 to be returned to right in the manner above described.

The printing is effected on a conventional paper web 97, which is fed from a tally roll 98 and is .guided around the drum 3 by a guide plate 99. Inserted between the paper 97 and the hammer 18 is a conventional ink ribbon 100, which is fed in a known manner from one to another of a pair of ribbon spools 101 (FIG. 1) located behind the drum 3. The paper web 97 has such a width as to cover the drum 3, as well as a pair of knurled wheels 102 located at the two ends of the drum and rotatably mounted on the shaft 4. The paper 97 is pressed against each wheel 102 by a corresponding paper pressing 'roller 103 (FIGS. 4 and 5) fulcrumed on a pin 104 of a lever 106. These levers are fulcrumed on a shaft 107 rotatably mounted on the machine frame and are urged clockwise each one by a spring 108.

Secured to the two wheels 102 are two hubs 109 integral with a pair of pinions intermeshing with a corresponding pair of pinions 111 secured to the shaft 107, whereby the two wheels 102 are always bodily rotated. The right hand pinion 111 (FIG. 5) cooperates with a locking lever 112 fulcrumed on a shaft 114 rotatably mounted on the machine frame. The left hand pinion 111 (FIG. 4) meshes with a pinion 113 secured to the shaft 114 in turn secured to a set of rubber rollers 115 (FIGS. 1 and 3) for advancing the paper web 97. Secured to the shaft 114 is also a knob 116 (FIG. 5) adapted to be manually operated to advance the paper by hand.

The right hand pinion 110 may cooperate with a lug 117 (FIG. 5) of a pawl 118 operable for line spacing the paper web 97. The pawl 118 is normally urged by a spring 119 to contact both the hub 109 and an edge 121 (FIG. 6) of a first transverse lever 122 fulcrumed on a stationary pivot 123. The lever 122 is provided with a bent l-ug 124 normally urged by a spring 126 to contact a second transverse lever 127 fulcrumed onthe pivot 123 as well.

The lever 127 is urged clockwise by a spring 128 and contacts a tapered edge of a lug 129 bent yfrom the arm 48. Furthermore, the lever 127 is provided with an edge 131 normally out of the vertical path of the pawl 118, the edge 131 being lower than the edge 121 of the lever 122. The pawl 118 is also provided with a recess 132 (FIG. 5) normally located behind the levers 122 and 127 and with a recess 133 adapted to engage a lug 134 of the slide 67.

Finally, the lever 122 is provided with a lug 136 adapted to cooperate with a projection 1137 of a stem 138- slidable on the pivot 123 and on a stationary pin 141. The stem 138 carries a key 139 for manually operating the line spacing, and is nonmally urged upwards by a spring 142.

When the cam 54 (FIG. 5) causes the universal bar 47 to be rocked counterclockwise thus starting the printing of a line, the lug 129 of the arm 48 rocks the lever 127 (FIG. 6) counterclockwise together with the lever 122. The edge 121 of the lever 122 thus disengages the pawl 118, while the edge 131 of the lever 127 is brought into the vertical path thereof. The pawl 118 is thus ar Vrested by the edge 131, in an intermediate position wherein the recess 133 (FIG. 5) is still prevented from engaging the lug 134.V

Thereafter upon termination of the printed line, when the -cam 54 restores the universal -bar 47 clockwise, the lever 127 (FIG. 6) is immediately rocked clockwise by the spring 128 and lreleases the pawl 118 from its edge 131, while the lever 122 is transversely arrested by the same pawl 118. This latter is now urged -by the spring 119 (FIG. 5) 4to contact the lug 1,34 and, when the eccentric 72 displaces the slide 67 rearwar-ds the recess 133 engages this lug 134.

Thereafter the slide 67 is moved forwards and through the lug 134 displaces the pawl 118, which by means of the lug 117 rotates the pinion 110 counterclockwise together with -the two wheels 102, thus advancing the paper web 97 one line spacing. The pawl 11-8 which is displaced forwards brings its recess 132 above the lever 122, which may finally be restored clockwise (FIG. 6) by the spring 126. Then, when the lug 134 (FIG. 5) displaces again the pawl 118 rearwards, the tapered edge of the recess 132 engages the upper edge 121 of the lever 122 thus causing the pawl 118 to disengage the lug 134, whereby the line spacing is not repeated.

If the paper web 97 is required to be line spaced manually independent from the printing, the key 139 is to be depressed. Then the projection 137 (FIG. 6) of the stem 138 engages the lug 136 of the lever 122 which is rocked counterclockwise independently from the lever 127. Now the pawl 118 may engage directly its recess 133 with the lug 134 (FIG. 5) of the slide 67, whereby a line spacing is effected at each revolution of the eccentric 72 as long las the key 139 is held depressed.

It is intended that many changes, improvements and additions of parts rnay be made to the described printing device without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For instance, the device may be embodied in a typewriter, a teleprinter or an accounting machine, wherein the printing is effected from the left to the right. In this case each type row of the drum 3 comprises a set of alphanumeric types, whereas the signals corresponding to the types to be printed in each line are previously stored in a suitable memory. iFurthermore, the stem 138 (FIG. 5) -may be automatically operated in order to obtain a vertical tabulation of the paper web 97. Finally, the reciprocatory movement of the universal bar 47 may be effected directly by the slide 67 upon a predisposing transverse movement of the bar 47 effected by the magnet 64 (FIG. l). In this case the magnet 64 may be held energized during the printing of the entire line in a manner known per se.

What I claim is:

1. A high speed serial printing device for office machines and data processing equipments, having a type drum, means for rotatably supporting said drum in an yaxially xed position, a plurality of parallel rows of types, each one of said rows being arranged circumferentially on said drum, at least two rows of types being similar and axially distanced according to the horizontal printing spacing, and comprising in combination:

(a) lan angular portion on said drum deprived of types, each one of said rows being arranged substantially in an angular portion of said drum equal to 180 degrees,

(b) .a carriage transversely movable parallel to said drum,

(c) means for continuously rotating said drum,

(d) a single hammer operable for engaging a selected type of said drum to effect a flying printing thereof during the rotative motion of said drum,

(e) means for mounting said hammer on said carriage, said hammer and said carriage transversely moving during printing hammer operation,

(f) means for continuously moving said carriage along a printing line at such a constant speed as to cover one horizontal printing spacing during each revolution of said drum,

g) said hammer having a transverse dimension equal to said horizontal spacing, whereby any type of a predetermined row of said plurality may be fully engaged by said hammer despite its transverse movement,

(h) and an electromagnet mounted on said carriage .and adapted to operate said hammer when said selected type crosses said printing line, said electromagnet being deenergized when said portion deprived of types crosses said printing line.

2. A high speed serial printing device for office machine and data processing equipments, having a type drum, means for rotatably supporting said drum in an axially fixed position, a plurality of parallel rows of types, each one of said rows being arranged circumferentially on said drum, at least two rows of types Ibeing similar and axially distanced according to the horizontal printing spacing, and comprising in combination:

(a) a carriage transversely movable parallel to said drum,

(b) means for continuously rotating said drum,

(c) a single hammer operable for engaging a selected type of said drum to effect a flying printing thereof during the rotative motion of said drum,

(d) means for mounting said hammer on said carriage, said hammer and said carriage transversely moving during printing hammer operation,

(e) a screw continuously rotating synchronously with said drum,

(f) normally ineffective connecting means operable for connecting said carriage to said screw to move said carriage along a printing line at such a speed as to cover one horizontal printing spacing during one revolution yof said drum,

(g) said hammer having such a transverse dimension as to fully engage any type of a predetermined row of said plurality despite its transverse movement.

(h) means for predisposing said connecting means for operation at any instant irrespective from the angular position of said drum,

(i) and a main cam rotatable synchronously with said drum for operating said connecting means so predisposed.

3. A high speed serial printing device for office machines and data processing equipments, having a type drum, means for rotatably supporting said drum in an axially xed position, a plurality of parallel rows of types, each one of said rows being arranged circumferentially on said drum, at least two rows of types being similar and axially distanced according to the horizontal printing spacing, and comprising in combination:

(a) a carirage transversely movable parallel to said drum,

(b) means for continuously rotating said drum,

(c) a single hammer operable for engaging a selected type of said drum to effect a flying printing thereof during the rotative motion of said drum,

(d) means for mounting said hammer on said carriage, said hammer and said carriage transversely moving during printing hammer operation,

(e) a screw continuously rotating synchronously with said drum for moving said carriage along a printing line at such a speed as to cover one horizontal printing spacing during one revolution of said drum,

(f) said hammer having such a transverse dimension as to fully engage any type of a predetermined row of said plurality despite of its transverse movement,

(g) a connecting member carried by said carriage and operable for alternately connecting and disconnecting said carriage and said screw,

(h) a main cam rotatable synchronously with said drum,

(i) a universal bar adapted to be predisposed for operating said connecting member under the control of said main cam,

(j) and means for predisposing said universal bar at an instant irrespective from the angular position of said drum.

4. A high speed serial printing device for office machine and data processing equipments, having a type drum, means for rotatably supporting said drum in an axially fixed position, a plurality of parallel rows of types, each one of said rows being arranged circumferentially on said drum, at least two rows of types being similar and axially distanced according to the horizontal printing spacing, and comprising in combination:

(a) a carriage transversely movable parallel to said drum,

(b) means for continuously rotating said drum,

(c) a single hammer operable for engaging a selected type of said drum to effect a flying printing thereof during the rotative motion of said drum,

(d) means for mounting said hammer on said carriage, said hammer and said carriage transversely moving during printing hammer operation,

(e) a screw continuously rotating synchronously with said drum for moving said carriage along a printing line at such a speed as to cover one horizontal spacing during one revolution of said drum,

(f) said hammerhaving such a transverse dimension as to fully engage any type of a predetermined row of said plurality despite of its transverse movement,

(g) a connecting member carried by said carriage and operable for alternately connecting and disconnecting said carriage and said screw,

(h) a main cam rotatable synchronously with said drum, f

(i) a universal bar for cooperating with said connect-ing member irrespective from the transverse position of said carriage, said universal bar being predisposable for being alternately displaced by said main cam to one of a pair of positions,

(j) and an electromagnet for predisposing said universal bar for being displaced from a first to a second position of said pair upon starting the printing of each line and for being returned from said rst to said second position upon terminating the printing of said line, said universal bar when so returned causing said carriage to be returned to the beginning of the printing line.

5. A device according to claim 4, comprising:

(k) a first signal generator adapted to be set -by said universal bar to a pair of conditions associated with said pair of positions.

6. A device according to claim S, comprising:

(l) a second signal generator adapted to be set from a rst to a second condition by said universal bar when moved to said second position,

(m) means for locking said second generator to said second condition irrespective from said universal bar,

(n) and means conditioned by said carriage upon termination of said return stroke for returning said second generator to said first condition.

7. A high speed serial printing device for oflice machines and data processing equipments, having a type drum, means for rotatably supporting said drum in an axially xed position, a plurality of parallel rows of types, each one of said rows Ibeing arranged circumferentially on said drum, at least two rows lof types being similar and axially distanced according to the horizontal printing spacing, and comprising in combination:

(a) a carriage transversely movable parallel to said drum,

(b) means for continuously rotating said drum,

(c) a single hammer operable for engaging a selected type of said drum to effect a flying printing thereof during the rotative motion of said drum,

(d) means for mounting said hammer on said carriage, said hammer and said carriage transversely moving during printing hammer operation,

(e) means for continuously moving said carriage along a printing line at such a constant speed as to cover one horizontal spacing during each revolution of said drum,

(f) said hammer having such a transverse dimension `as to fully engage any type of a predetermined row of said plurality despite of its transverse movement,

(g) a pair of paper supporting wheels located at the two ends of said drum and coaxial therewith,

(h) a rst pair of pinions each one secured to one of said wheels,

(i) a second pair of bodily rotatable pinions engaging said first pair of pinions,

(j) a main cam rotatable synchronously with said drum,

(k) and pawl means operable by said cam upon termination of printing each line for rotating the pinions of one of said pair.

8. A device according to claim 7, comprising:

(l) a pair of elements normally locking said pawl means to prevent same from being operated, one of said elements being disabled upon starting the printing of each line, the other element being disabled upon terminating the printing of said line.

9. A high speed serial printing device of a kind used in oi-ce and data processing equipment having a type drum, means rotatably supporting said drum in an axially xed position, said drum having a plurality of at least two parallel rows of types circumferentially provided thereon, the types of said rows being spaced circumferentially according to a given pitch and said rows being spaced axially of said drum in accord with desired print spacing, said device distinguished by embodying in cornbination,

(a) a drum sector which bears said parallel rows of types,

(b) another drum sector which is devoid of types and at least of a circumferential expanse twice the stated pitch,

(c) means to rotate said drum continuously,

(d) -a print hammer having a striking face for individual character printing coaction with the individual types along a printing line parallel to said drum,

(e) means to move said hammer at a given speed along said printing line and so synchronized with the rotative speed of said drum that during successive turns of said drum the types of different rows come successively at the printing line into character printing range of the striking face on said hammer,

(f) and means to operate said hammer when a selected type o-f any of said rows comes into printing range of said hammer,

(g) said hammer having a striking face of a width so that while it is moved along said printing line, it will describe a helicoidal band-path in reference t-o the rotating drum, in which band-path, within partial turns thereof, the individual type rows are completely situated by reason of the travel of the hammer which occurs while the type-devoid drum sector rotates across the printing line.

10. A high speed serial printing device of a kind used in office and data processing equipment having a type drum, means rotatably supporting said drum in an axially fixed position, said drum having a plurality of at least two parallel rows of types circumferentially provided thereon, the types of said rows being spaced circumferentially according .to a given pitch and said rows being 'spaced axially of said drum in accord with desired print spacing, bination,

(a) a drum sector which bears said parallel rows of types,

(b) another drum sector which is devoid of types and at least of a circumferential expanse twice the stated pitch,

(c) means to rotate said drum continuously,

(d) Ia print hammer having a striking face for individual character printing coaction with the individual types along a printing line parallel to said drum,

(e) a carriage movable parallel to said drum,

(f) means to mount said hammer on said carriage for movement therewith, and also to facilitate its operation for its striking face to strike types at said printing line,

(g) means to move said carriage at a given speed along said printing line and so synchronized with the rotative speed of said drum that during successive turns of said drum the types of different rows come successively at the printing line into character printing range of the striking face on said hammer,

(h) and means including an electromagnet on said carriage to operate said hammer when a selected type of any of said rows comes into printing range 'of said hammer,

(i) said hammer having a striking face of a width so that while it is moved along said printing line, it will describe a helicoidal band-path in reference to the rotating drum, in which band-path, within partial turns thereof the individual type rows are completely situated by reason of the travel of the hammer which occurs while the type-devoid drum sector rotates across the printing line.

11. A high speed serial printing device of a kind used in oce and data processing equipment having a type drum, means supporting said drum in an axially fixed position,

said device distinguished by embodying in comsaid drum having a plurality of .at least two parallel rows of types circumferentially provided thereon, the types of Said rows being spaced circumferentially according to a given pitch and said rows being spaced axially of said drum in accord with desired print spacing, said device distinguished by embodying in combination,

(a) a drum sector which bears said parallel rows of types,

(b) another drum sector which is devoid of types and at least of a circumferential expanse twice the stated pitch,

(c) means to rotate said drum continuously,

(d) a print hammer having a striking face for individual character printing coaction with the individual types along a printing line parallel to said drum,

(e) means -to move said hammer at a given speed along said printing line and so synchronized with the rotative speed of said drum that during successive turns of said drum the types of different rows come successively at the printing line into character printing range of the striking face on said hammer, comprislng,

(l) a carriage movable parallel to said drum,

(2) a screw rotating synchronously with the drum to move the carriage one print space for each turn of the drum, said screw normally idly rotating,

(3) and means to connect said carriage for movement by the rotating screw,

(f) and means to operate said hammer when a selected type of any of said rows comes into printing range of said hammer,

(g) said hammer having a striking face of a width so that when it is moved along said printing line, it will describe a helicoidal band-path in reference to the rotating drum, in which band-path, within partial turns thereof, the individual type rows are cornpletely situated by reason of the travel of the hammer which occurs while the type-devoid sector rotates across the printing line.

12. A high speed serial printing device of a kind used in oflice and data processing equipment having a type drum, means supporting said drum in an axially fixed position, said drum having a plurality of denominational order rows of types provided thereon in adjacent circumferential rows and each row comprising all the figures of an order, the types of said rows being spaced circumferentially according to a given pitch and said rows being spaced axially of said drum in accord with desired print spacing, said device distinguished by embodying in combination,

(a) a drum sector which bears said parallel rows of types,

(b) another drum sector which is devoid of types and at least of a circumferential expanse twice the stated pitch,

(c) means to rotate said drum continuously,

(d) a single print hammer having a striking face for individual character printing coaction with the individual types along a printing line parallel to said drum,

(e) means to move said hammer at a given speed along said printing line to traverse the different rows of types, such moving means being so synchronized with the rotative speed of said drum so that during successive turns of said drum the types of different rows come successively at the printing line into character printing range of the striking face on said hammer, comprising,

(l) a carriage movable parallel to said drum,

(2) means to move the carriage at a constant speed parallel to said drum,

(3) and means to connect the carriage for movement by the carriage moving means so that the printing hammer traverses the ditterent denominational rows of types successively,

(f) and means to operate said hammer when a selected type of any of said rows comes into printing range of said hammer,

(g) said hammer having a striking face of a width so that while it is moved along said printing line, it will describe a helicoidal band-path in reference to the rotating drum, in which band-path, within partial turns thereof, the individual type rows are completely situated by reason of the travel ofthe hammer which occurs while the type-devoid drum sector rotates across the printing line.

13. A high speed serial printing device of a kind used in oflice and data processing equipment having a type drum, means supporting said drum in an axially fixed position, said drum having a plurality of adjacent parallel rows of ltypes provided circumferentially thereon, at least one of said rows comprising a series of register identifying types, the other rows compising each a set of digit types, a decimal-point type and two algebraic sign-types, the types of said rows being spaced circumferentially according to a given pitch and said rows being spaced axially of said drum in accor-d with desired print spacing, said device distinguished by embodying in combination,

(a) a drum `sectorwhich bears said parallel rows of types,

(b) another drum sector which is devoid of types and at least of a circumferential expanse twice the stated pitch,

(c) means to rotate said drum continuously,

(d) a single print hammer having a striking face for individual character printing coaction with the individual types along a printing line parallel to said drum,

(e) means to move said hammer at a given speed along said printing `line to traverse sequentially the different rows of types, 4directionally from the lowest to the highest orders, such moving means being so synchronized with the rotative speed of said drum that during successive turns of said drum the types of different rows come successively at the printing lline into character printing range of the striking face on said hammer, comprising,

(l) a carriage movable parallel to said drum,

(2) means to move the carriage at a constant speed parallel to said drum directionally from the lowest to the highest order,

(3) and means to connect the carriage for movement by the carriage moving means so that the printing hammer traverses the different rows of types sequentially,

(f) means to operate said hammer when a selected type of any of said rows comes into printing range of said hammer,

(g) said hammer having a striking face of a width so that while it is moved along said printing line, it will describe a helicoidal band-path in .reference to the rotating drum, in which barid-path, within partial turns thereof, the individual type rows are completely situated by reason of the travel of the hammer which occurs while the type-devoid drum sector rotates across the printing line,

(h) and means responsive to the printing of one of said algebraic signs for causing a return movement of the carriage.

. 14. A high speed serial printing device of a kind used 1n oice and data processing equipment having a type drum, means supporting said drum in an axially fixed position, said drum having a plurality of at least two parallel rows of types circumferentially provided thereon, the types of said rows being spaced circumferentially according to a given pitch and said rows being spaced axially of said drum in accord with desired print spacing, said device distinguished by embodying in combination,

(a) a drum sector which bears said parallel rows of types,

(b) another drum sector which is devoid of types and 13 at least of a circumferential expanse twice the stated pitch,

(c) means to rotate said drum continuously,

(d) a print hammer having a striking face for individual character printing coaction with the individual types along a printing line parallel to said drum,

(e) means to move said hammer at a given speed along said printing line and so synchronized with the rotative speed of said drum that during successive turns of said drum the -types of different rows come successively at the printing line into character printing .range of the striking face on said hammer,

(f) means to operate said hammer when a selected type of any of said rows comes into printing range of said hammer,

(g) said hammer having a striking face of a width so that While it is moved along said printing line, it will describe a helicoidal band-path in reference to the rotating drum, in which band-path, within partial turns thereof, the individual type rows are completely situated by reason of the travel of the hammer which occurs while the type-devoid drum sector rotates across the printing line,

(h) a paper supporting wheel located at each end of said `drum coaxially therewith, but rotatably independent thereof to line-feed paper past the printing line at said drum,

(i) and means to rotate bodily said wheels conjointly to line-feed said paper.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,656,240 10/1953 Hell 197-1 X 3,135,195 6/1964 Potter lOl-93 3,188,947 6/1-965 Paige lOl-111 X 3,220,343 11/1965 Wasserman lOl-93 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

20 E. S. BURR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A HIGH SPEED SERIAL PRINTING DEVICE FOR OFFICE MACHINES AND DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENTS, HAVING A TYPE DRUM, MEANS FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID DRUM IN AN AXIALLY FIXED POSITION, A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL ROWS OF TYPES, EACH ONE OF SAID ROWS BEING ARRANGED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ON SAID DRUM, AT LEAST TWO ROWS OF TYPES BEING SIMILAR AND AXIALLY DISTANCED ACCORDING TO THE HORIZONTAL PRINTING SPACING, AND COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) AN ANGULAR PORTION ON SAID DRUM DEPRIVED OF TYPES, EACH ONE OF SAID ROWS BEING ARRANGED SUBSTANTIALLY IN AN ANNULAR PORTION OF SAID DRUM EQUAL TO 180 DEGREES, (B) A CARRIAGE TRANSVERSELY MOVABLE PARALLEL TO SAID DRUM, (C) MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY ROTATING SAID DRUM, (D) A SINGLE HAMMER OPERABLE FOR ENGAGING A SELECTED TYPE OF SAID DRUM TO EFFECT A FLYING PRINTING THEREOF DURING THE ROTATIVE MOTION OF SAID DRUM, (E) MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID HAMMER ON SAID CARRIAGE, SAID HAMMER AND SAID CARRIAGE TRANSVERSELY MOVING DURING PRINTING HAMMER OPERATION, (F) MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY MOVING SAID CARIAGE ALONG A PRINTING LINE AT SUCH A CONSTANT SPEED AS TO COVER ONE HORIZONTAL PRINTING SPACING DURING EACH REVOLUTION OF SAID DRUM, (G) SAID HAMMER HAVING A TRANSVERSE DIMENSION EQUAL TO SAID HORIZONTAL SPACING, WHEREBY ANY TYPE OF A PREDETERMINED ROW OF SAID PLURALITY MAY BE FULLY ENGAGED BY SAID HAMMER DESPITE ITS TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT, (H) AND AN ELECTROMAGNET MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE AND ADAPTED TO OPERATE SAID HAMMER WHEN SAID SELECTED TYPE CROSSES SAID PRINTING LINE, SAID ELECTROMAGNET BEING DEENERGIZED WHEN SAID PORTION DEPRIVED OF TYPES CROSSES SAID PRINTING LINE. 